I had my boyfriend snap these shots yesterday of my riding Dakota. I've been wanting to get some riding shots of Dakota and myself for a while now, but since I don't ride him often at all, and usually ride him alone... it's been kinda hard.

Anyway, if at all possible, please critique Dakota undersaddle... He hasn't had that many rides put on him, as he's only two years and nine months, but he knows the most basic of the basics (walk, trot, canter, stop, backup). I only walked and trotted him the other day, but I didn't get any trotting pictures, just walking.

If you want to critique me, you're welcome to, but I know that I look horrible, lol... I wasn't focusing on looking good, I was focusing on Dakota. Lol.

Dakota
Two years, nine months, and four days exactly
Tennessee Walking Horse
Gelding
15 hands

They're hard to critique. Especially at this stage in his training. But for how old he is he's doing good being able to ride on the road. He looks like a pretty laid back guy

Britt

12-28-2008 12:31 AM

Yeah, they aren't the best pictures to critique, sorry... Lol.

He's never been ridden anywhere but on the road. I don't have access to a round pen unless I take him to either my friends place (which is roughly 3 miles away from where I live) or my other friends place (which is about 3.5 miles from where I live)... and I won't ride him in the pasture because it's 50 acres of hills, holes, woods, cows, and four other horses plus lots of dogs... yeah, not a good idea just yet, lol.

He's a very laid back gelding... I love working with him.

megannigan

12-28-2008 01:07 AM

He looks like he needs some hill work to build up his butt. He's at a good age to start for quarter horses.

Britt

12-28-2008 01:20 PM

Really? Lol... He's the first horse I've ever trained from baby to grown up and from scratch, so I'm taking things quite slowly with him... I was planning on starting 'hill work' next year, when I start riding him more often...

megannigan

12-28-2008 01:22 PM

I just saw that he is a TWH, they never get butts it seems. Yeah he's fine though for a little hill work, but I wouldn't over load him. Since he's a TWH though I wouldn't worry about it after all.

Britt

12-28-2008 01:42 PM

Lol... Yeah, hes pure TWH... though his dam doesn't gait and has been mistaken for a TB, STB, and QH many times by other people. Lol.

My2Geldings

12-28-2008 03:11 PM

He's a cute guy. He always looks so willing and happy to do whatever is asked of him in pics, I think he's adorable! How old is he? He looks like a youngster who needs filling in still.

Britt

12-28-2008 06:54 PM

Thanks. He tries his best, which is more than enough. He is young... lol. He's two and a half right now. He'll be three in March.